We asked you to nominate your favourite books of 2014 and here, in no particular order, are the results - the 10 books that attracted the most consensus. Below you’ll find acclaimed fiction, memoir, fantasy and polemic. Interestingly, the list differs greatly from readers’ choices halfway through the year – take a look at those here.

1. The Paying Guests | Sarah Waters

“Five hundred pages-plus of effortless reading. A story that begins with the simple premise of a mother and daughter taking in paying guests to help with financial difficulties. It turns into a page-turning extraordinary thriller.” jkinnaird

“Sarah Waters is well-informed and skilful in unfolding a story, presenting detailed descriptions of people whose inner lives and social histories are generally ignored by traditional literature. Waters describes housework, lesbian sexuality among ordinary people, and untold class and money issues created by the first world war and its aftermath.” Dianne Hunter

2. Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery | Henry Marsh

“A stunningly honest and moving memoir of Dr Marsh’s life as a neurosurgeon.” stilllistening

“This is the book which explains why I so often prefer non-fiction to fiction these days. Who could make up a story as interesting and moving as this? It is suspenseful, sometimes chilling, humane and wise. And, it has the funniest anecdote about computers and lost passwords which tops all yours! I laughed out loud and immediately shared it with friends. You can’t not read this book.” philipskel

“Honest, fascinating, funny and moving.” Diana Patel

“Gripping, surprisingly honest, very well written memoir of a brain surgeon.” howardjl

3. Elizabeth Is Missing | Emma Healey

“Poignant but deadly accurate depiction of someone suffering from dementia solving a crime. Anyone with a relative suffering dementia will recognise the black humour! A brilliant debut.” xerif

“A beautifully written insight into the mind of a dementia sufferer, it certainly opened my eyes. It’s both funny and heartbreakingly sad. It’s a very simple read, but the reader takes away a clearer, more complex understanding of a condition which is likely to affect many of us in modern times. I would highly recommend this book.” scotty01

4. The Book of Strange New Things | Michel Faber

“Michel Faber is a wonderful author. His writing skills and use of language are superb. In this new novel he introduces themes which could make the book difficult to read or perhaps follow, but I could not leave it alone until I had finished it. There is a poignancy to the book that remains long after the reading of it has finished.” maureenglasgow

“There are many reasons this novel is great - its richly characterised voices, its sumptuous period details, its dark sense of humour and healthy but never grating awareness of itself. None of these even gets close to why it’s such a marvel. Its plot is truly ridiculous. It is basically unspoilable. It’s the kind of labyrinthine sci-fi that teenage boys love and everyone else gives a heartening smile and pats on the head. But 600 pages fly by without stopping for a second to think, wait, how did I just let any of this happen?” Nicholas Watts

“The impact of climate change, as Margaret Atwood says, is a conversation we need to have now. It cannot be put off any longer and Klein’s book reinforces that thought with clarity.” LaikaLizzie

“Naomi Klein is a mainstream author, and she was bold for writing about a topic that is still not considered appropriate when people socialise. This book spells out reality, it’s easy to read and the message is incredibly important. I read about 35 books a year – this is top of my list over the last 12 months.” Ian James

“No one needs telling even once that war is a horrible business for everyone involved, during and after, but sometimes it’s good to be told in a way that is painfully beautiful and moving. As this book is.” zendik

“I don’t think I have ever read a book like it. The harrowing descriptions of the POWs’ existence in Burma juxtaposed with a passionate but ill-fated love affair said so much to me about the potential of human experience to be at once beautiful and terrible; I have felt haunted by it ever since.” philojo

“Literary quality of the writing combined with ethical philosophy and believable characterisation. Great historical fiction.” 100blague

It wouldn’t be a proper end-of-year list without a bit of cheating. The Goldfinch came out at the end of 2013, but it was published in paperback this year and that’s when the majority of readers have had a chance to read it – so we decided to accept the nominations.

“A long book, with not a word wasted. Wonderful characters in an utterly compelling story. Clever, funny and curiously misunderstood. Could read it again already!” lilycarver

“It is an experience, dreamlike, sharp with grief and the growing up on it. I love Theo like he is a real person. He is more than three dimensional, he has a psyche. This will remain an all-time favourite book.” Madeleineann

“Just a wonderfully woven dark (and richly long) tale of redemption, sacrifice, loss, life choices and beauty, all in the beholder’s eye. I read professionally for work, so to devote my time (and then desire) to delve into this 850+ page wonder-read – on a colleague’s recommendation, no less – and then to so thoroughly enjoy the writing so as not to want to put it down, is statement enough. 2014’s deserved Pulitzer winner.” Jennifer Cross